Empirical Methods in Trade Secret Research

Peter S. Menell & David L. Schwartz (eds.), Research Handbook on the Economics of Intellectual Property Law (Vol. II - Analytical Methods) (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016, Forthcoming)

Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2015-1021

22 Pages Posted: 15 Sep 2015 Last revised: 14 Dec 2016

See all articles by Michael Risch

Michael Risch

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Date Written: September 10, 2015

Abstract

This book chapter surveys a variety of methods in conducting empirical trade secret research. It discusses data sources, study types and methods, and challenges unique to trade secrecy with respect to four different considerations: innovation incentives, tradeoffs with other IP, the "cost minimization" theory of trade secrets, and litigation behavior.

The chapter also includes a comprehensive bibliography of every empirical trade secret study we could locate, organized by subject. Many of the papers and their findings are discussed in the book chapter as aids for those developing their own research along similar paths.

Keywords: trade secrets, empirical, survey, experimental, docket

JEL Classification: O34, C42, C90, K41

Suggested Citation

Risch, Michael, Empirical Methods in Trade Secret Research (September 10, 2015). Peter S. Menell & David L. Schwartz (eds.), Research Handbook on the Economics of Intellectual Property Law (Vol. II - Analytical Methods) (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016, Forthcoming), Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2015-1021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2658685

Michael Risch (Contact Author)

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law ( email )

299 N. Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA 19085
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/academics/faculty/Facultyprofiles/MichaelRisch.html

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